Why does the manufacturing industry need foreign labour?

Primarily there is a lack of availability of local workers for the manufacturing industries. And there is a mismatch when it comes to those newly available on the work market. Mauritius is also to a great extent shifting towards the service industry such as tourism and shopping centres, amongst others, which are attracting a lot of younger people because the work is less demanding.

However, in many cases, the pay derived will be less than the manufacturing sector. It’s all about the workenvironment.

Do employers prefer to deal with foreigners?

We have only one standard, be it for local labour or foreign. The pay is the same. In fact, foreign workers cost us far more as we have to provide accommodation, food, air tickets and all other related expenses. This will amount normally to 30% over and above the wages paid to Mauritian employees. On average, it costs fromRs 13 000 to 14 000 a month, all inclusive. Hence, it is a question of need rather than preference. There’s some 15 000 for all manufacturing. The fi gures are unpredictable as there are certain closures taking place.

Is that because foreigners are more fl exible than natives?

In the past, there was a big difference. In terms of literal productivity, man-to-man or woman to woman comparison, the problem was the absenteeism of local employees. Today there is a major improvement. The level of absenteeism today ranges from 2 to 5 percent against 10 to 15 percent before.

Mauritians are looking for better and better jobs. It’s a transitional thing. From sugar, the mass labour has moved to textile, then to tourism.

At the manufacturing level, we have an industry that is successful. Employing foreign labour is not a threat to local jobs. Rather, it creates wealth. Or else, we would lose Rs 30 billions in revenues.

For me, we must view the foreign labour as a value added asset rather than an impediment to the country. We may have recourse to foreign labour in other sectors as Mauritians goes higher up, in a sophisticated environment, better education. We are not losing but gaining. They will spend their earnings in the country as well. That is creating economic activity to the tune of one billion rupees.

Does it mean that they work harder?

Today, the uniformity is the same. One must remember when a person lands from Sri Lanka, China or Bangladesh, they want to work and improve their living conditions in their respective native countries, that is from poorer to better lifestyle. That’s why they work harder to maximize their earnings, buy a house, pay for the school fees of their kids and lead a better life.

And yet it seems they are treated rather badly if reports of poor standards of living and low wages are to be believed?

There was a learning curve that we have gone through. Today, the working environment is far better. In regard to what’s happens here and there, it’s a matter of interpretation. You can have isolated incidents. A small issue that develops in a strike. But that does mean there is abuse.

In a factory, such things happen. But we do not accept blackmail. What we want is fair transparent system, which checks and balances. And we have our own buyers to monitor us. When it comes to those who refuse to comply when they proved wrong, the government has no choice than to deport. We need to have fairness all over.

From your perspective, do the labour laws have to be amended to facilitate easy hiring of foreign labour?

Labour laws, as they are now, have been amended regularly. Workers rights are better protected. There is a fair balance. It’s dynamic.